What does "mutation" mean?
Any alteration or change.
Mutation
/mjuˈteɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any alteration or change.
- Grammar: mutation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: mutant, ablaut, acoustic phonetics, alteration.
- Useful contrasts: genomic stability, no change, no mutation.
- Usage evidence: There are no reports on this mutation because such a mutant wouldn't even be born.
How to use "mutation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mutation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mutation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mutation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mutation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "mutation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "mutant" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "mutation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any alteration or change. countable, uncountable
- 2 a change or alteration in form or qualities wordnet
- 3 Any heritable change of the base-pair sequence of genetic material. countable, uncountable
"Plant breeding is always a numbers game.[…]The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, […]. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better. These rarities may be new mutations, or they can be existing ones that are neutral—or are even selected against—in a wild population. A good example is mutations that disrupt seed dispersal, leaving the seeds on the heads long after they are ripe."
- 4 (genetics) any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism wordnet
- 5 A mutant. countable, uncountable
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration wordnet
- 7 An alteration in a particular sound of a word, especially the initial consonant, which is triggered by the word's morphological or syntactic context and not by its phonological context. countable, uncountable
- 8 The transfer of title of an asset in a register. countable, uncountable
- 9 A group of thrushes. collective, countable, noun, rare, uncountable
"Birdwatchers would enjoy a host of sparrows, a herd of swans, a descent of woodpeckers, a herd of wrens, and mutation of thrushes."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
genomic stabilityno changeno mutationnormal allele
Example
"There are no reports on this mutation because such a mutant wouldn't even be born."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "mutation"?
Common synonyms include: mutant, ablaut, acoustic phonetics, alteration, alteration, altering.
How do you use "mutation" in a sentence?
There are no reports on this mutation because such a mutant wouldn't even be born.
How do you pronounce "mutation"?
Pronounced /mjuˈteɪʃən/.
Etymology
Late 14th century as Middle English mutacioun, from Latin mūtātiō, both directly and via Old French mutacion.